Open AccessThe Role of Terrestrial and Space Environments in Launch Vehicle Development
Author(s) -
Dale L. Johnson,
William W. Vaughan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of aerospace technology and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.265
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 2175-9146
pISSN - 1984-9648
DOI - 10.5028/jatm.v11.1088
Subject(s) - aerospace , aerospace engineering , space environment , systems engineering , space (punctuation) , space vehicle , aeronautics , environmental science , space exploration , engineering , computer science , geology , geophysics , operating system
Natural (Terrestrial & Space) Environment (NE) phenomena play a significant role in the design and flight of aerospace vehicles and in the integrity of the associated aerospace systems and structures. Natural environmental design criteria guidelines described here are based on measurements and modeling of atmospheric and climatic phenomena relative to various aerospace vehicle development and mission/operational procedures, and for vehicle launch locations. Both the terrestrial environment (0-90 km altitude) and the space environment (Earth orbital altitudes) parameters and their engineering application philosophy are given with emphasis on launch vehicle-affected terrestrial environment elements. This paper also addresses the basis for the NE guidelines presented, the interpretation of the guidelines, and application to the development of launch or space vehicle design requirements. This paper represents the first of three on this subject.